In Cherokee County, Iowa, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Cherokee County, 13.5% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 99% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 88% of U.S. counties.
What drives Cherokee County's score
In Cherokee County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 50.0. Jobs are the lowest part, at 5.0. Unemployment averaged 2.4%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026, lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Cherokee County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Cherokee County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (30.0%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 50.0 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent30.0% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income13.5% · fiscal year 20275th or lower percentile
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- 27.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.5% · August 202533rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.5% · August 202525th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score33.7% · second quarter of 202624th percentile
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- 24.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.7% · August 202533rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people60.3 · 202514th percentile
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- 20.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.4% · 202425th percentile
- Children below the poverty line13.0% · 202427th percentile
- People with a disability12.0% · 2020 to 202414th percentile
- People without health insurance4.8% · 2020 to 202416th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$82,715 · 202416th percentile
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- 5.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20265th or lower percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working10.2% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Cherokee County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Cherokee County, 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Cherokee County
Iowa
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Cherokee County had its largest rise, from 15.9% in 2014 to 19.8% in 2019.
In Cherokee County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 17.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Cherokee County, Iowa, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 17.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Cherokee County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 7.1% in 2013 to 9.3% in 2014.
The share of households in Cherokee County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2017 and has since fallen to 7.0%
Low on the chart: 3.4% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Cherokee County, Iowa.
How Cherokee County has changed
Cherokee County's population had its largest drop, from 15,657 in 1984 to 14,139 in 1989.
Cherokee County's population fell by about a third from 1969 to 2024, reaching 11,658
High on the chart: 17,235 in 1969. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Cherokee County, Iowa.
The number of jobs located in Cherokee County fell most sharply on the way to its 2015 low, from 5,423 in 2010 to 4,759 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Cherokee County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 16% since
High on the chart: 5,810 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Cherokee County, Iowa.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 2.8% | 2025 2.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.8% | 2024 10.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,817 | 2024 $82,715 |
The table uses 2.6% for 2025; the score uses 2.4% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Cherokee County's history
1851
Formed on January 15, 1851, from open territory. Wikipedia
1940
The county's largest recorded population was the 1940 Census count of 19,258. The 2020 Census counted 11,658, 61% of the peak. Census Bureau
1952
A tornado in June 1952 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1984
A tornado in June 1984 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2014
Tyson Foods Deli Plant closed, laid off 450 employees. Wikipedia
2019
A flood in March 2019 did $3.39 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
A flood in June 2024 did $1.02 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
23 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Cherokee County, 14 of them for flooding. FEMA
Cherokee County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Cherokee County, two score higher. Of the group, Cherokee County gets the smallest share of its income from benefit checks; Woodbury County gets the largest, at 23.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury County, IA | 39 | 13.6% | 23.0% |
| Buena Vista County, IA | 13 | 10.7% | 21.5% |
| Cherokee County, IA | 11 | 10.4% | 17.0% |
| O'Brien County, IA | 6 | 9.3% | 21.0% |
| Ida County, IA | 2 | 10.6% | 21.1% |
| Plymouth County, IA | 1 | 7.6% | 17.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Cherokee County the poorest county in Iowa?
No, Cherokee County's poverty rate was 10.4% in 2024, 58th highest of 99 in Iowa (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Decatur County, at 18.1%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Cherokee County ranks 55th of 99 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Cherokee County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Iowa Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Cherokee County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Cherokee County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.